Long-Term Disability Insurance for Police Officers

Long-Term Disability Insurance For Police Officers

Police officers are a vital part of our community and often have to endure physical and emotional burdens that few others in society deal with. The pressures of the job and on-duty injuries might preclude you from serving your fellow citizens to the best of your ability.

Police officers who can’t perform their job duties due to emotional or physical stress are more likely to put themselves and those around them at risk. Working under these conditions is unsafe, but some officers try to push themselves to put food on the table.

At Capitan Law, our long-term disability attorneys are proud to help you get the support you need for you and your family. Contact us at (267) 419-7888 for a free consultation to discuss the potential long-term disability benefits you might qualify for. From our multiple locations in Pennsylvania and Kentucky, our staff can help residents of Pennsylvania, Kentucky, and New Jersey receive the disability benefits they deserve.

What Conditions Qualify You for Long-Term Disability?

Police officers, even within one single shift, have to take on more roles than some people do in their entire lives. Whether filling out documentation to help formalize an arrest or dealing with potentially dangerous criminals in the field, police work opens you up to a wide range of potential injuries and medical conditions.

Some potential injuries and health concerns for police officers include:

Gunshot wounds
Muscle strains and tears
Cuts, bruises, and burns
Concussions and traumatic brain damage
Broken bones
Exposure to dangerous chemicals and drugs
PTSD
Stress
Depression

While it is not always easy to prove your disabilities to an insurance company, police officers often have disabilities that are more severe and debilitating than the average profession. It is easy to see how we can argue that gunshot wounds and PTSD from violent on-the-job experiences prevent you from performing the material duties of your occupation, the first step in receiving long-term disability benefits.

Types of Long-Term Disability Insurance For Police Officers

The amount of money you receive will depend on the policy you are claiming insurance benefits through. Typically, you will have either an “own” occupation policy or an “any” occupation policy.

“Own” occupation long-term disability policies will classify you as disabled and eligible for benefits if your injuries or conditions prevent you from continuing your own work as a police officer. While your skills may translate to other occupations, “own” occupation policies will continue to pay benefits through the stated date if you cannot complete all duties of your previous job. In certain situations, you can continue to work and use your skills and abilities in another occupation without losing benefits. However, other policies might only pay if you remain unemployed. Your long-term disability insurance attorney will thoroughly describe your benefits and the conditions you must meet in order to keep receiving them.

“Any” occupation long-term disability policies are not as generous as the previous policies. Under these policies, insurance providers only consider you eligible for benefits if your injuries prevent you from finding any sort of employment based on your previous training and experience. Luckily, these policies have some caveats that exclude jobs from your list of potential new careers. For example, you are unlikely to be denied benefits if the only employment available to you pays substantially less than what your previous job and work history would call for. Having an attorney by your side helps ensure you receive benefits that keep you and your family financially secure despite your disability.

Claim Denials by Long-term Disability Insurance Providers

Police officers generally have some of the best long-term disability insurance plans in the workforce, but that doesn’t mean your claim will be a walk in the park. Each policy will differ, but some potential reasons for claim denial include:

Insurance companies disagree about disability – There is no simple test to determine if you are disabled and unable to perform your job functions. Sometimes, the insurance company may recognize your injuries but disagree about their severity or impact on your life. These disagreements are also common when your policy involves “any” occupation clauses.
Insufficient evidence – Some injuries are apparent, but others, especially emotional issues and stress, are invisible to the naked eye. Without medical documentation, therapist notes, or a diagnosis, an insurance company can deny your claim due to a lack of evidence.
Filing errors – Missing a deadline, leaving a section of the form blank, or failing to attach some of your evidence documentation might lead to a denied claim. By filing your claim with the help of a long-term disability attorney for police officers, you can rest easy knowing a professional is guiding you through this complex process.

Appealing A Denied Claim

If you are struggling financially following a disability, receiving a denial to your claim in the mail is not something you want to wake up to. In the case of a misfiled form and missing documentation, supplying this missing information and sending it back can take as little as a few hours’ time. Other denials might require a more involved response. Regardless of the reasoning for the denial, you should still contact a disability insurance attorney for help if you didn’t employ one during your initial claim. They will know which deficiencies in the documentation are present and how to proceed.

For denials that disagree with your disability entirely or dispute your condition, you may need to supply much more evidence. Written statements from medical professionals and doctors can attest to your physical and mental capabilities. Used in conjunction with statements from experts within your occupation, you can argue that your documented medical status does not allow you to perform the outlined duties of your job. If, however, you did not go to medical professionals to receive a diagnosis or treatment, you will have a harder time successfully appealing your claim.

Start Pursuing Your LTD Benefits Today

At Capitan Law, we understand the struggles that police officers endure both before and after disability. To learn how our attorneys can help you apply for benefits or win an appeal, call us today at (267) 419-7888 or contact us through our website for a free consultation.

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